The Syrian Women’s Political Movement expresses its concern over the detention of its member Khawla Barghouth in Damascus on May 5.

According to a clarification issued by her family, the detention of Khawla Barghouth is linked to a complaint filed in the context of an ongoing investigation.

While there are no indications of political motives behind the case to date, the circumstances of the detention raise serious concerns regarding the lack of transparency and the nature of the legal procedures being followed.

Available information indicates that Khawla has legal representation, with limited access granted to her lawyer during her detention.

In this context, we wish to recall the provisions of the Constitutional Declaration issued in 2025:

Article (17/3) stipulates that “the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final judicial ruling.”

Article (18/2) affirms that “no person may be detained or have their liberty restricted except by a judicial order.”

Article (12/2) provides that rights and freedoms, including fair trial guarantees, are an integral part of the constitutional framework.

Based on the foregoing, the Syrian Women’s Political Movement calls for the immediate release of Khawla Barghouth, given the absence of sufficient legal grounds to justify her continued detention, in line with the provisions and guarantees of the Constitutional Declaration.

The Syrian Women’s Political Movement expresses its solidarity with the family of Khawla Barghouth and affirms its support for their efforts in following up on the case and ensuring respect for her rights.

The General Secretariat of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement

Friday, May 15, 2026